Bittangabee Bay picnic area to black cliffs

2 hrs

5.2 km Return

169 m

Hard track

This walk is a great way to explore the less visited areas of the popular Bittangabee Bay. The walk winds around the northern side of the bay to explore the cliff top views. The black cliffs are unfenced, and give great views over the entrance of Bittangabee Bay and out to sea. On the way there is an opportunity to explore the history associated with the ruins of Imlay house.

Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area

Bittangabee Bay Picnic Area is near Bittangabee Bay and camp area in Ben Boyd National Park. The picnic area is a day-use only area with a few picnic tables, an electric BBQ and a pit toilet. There is a reasonable amount of natural shade, and is close to a car park. There is short walk to the beach and ruins at Bittangabee Bay. The picnic area is well signposted on the loop road near the Bittangabee camping area.

(0km) Bittangabee Bay Picnic area → Int. Coast and Ruins Trks Sth

150 m

3 mins

5m

-1m

Moderate track

From the picnic area, the walk follows the sign to ‘Saltwater Creek 9.0km’ down the hill, keeping the road above on the left. The track heads down the hillside and crosses a rocky creek bed, then leads up the hill to an information sign marking the intersection.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk passes the ‘Welcome to Bittangabee’ sign (to the left of the track) as it heads down the hill keeping the water below on the right. The track keeps the water below on the right to tend left, around the hillside. The track passes numerous bay access tracks on the right to soon come to a signposted intersection. Now Veer right to rejoin the main walk .

(0.15km) Int. Coast and Ruins Trks Sth → Imlay House Ruins

140 m

3 mins

10m

-2m

Moderate track

Veer left: From the intersection, the track heads up the hill keeping the ‘Welcome to Bittangabee’ sign below on the right. The track tends right up the hill, to a black platform overlooking the Imlay House ruins.

Imlay House

Imlay House ruins still show the foundations of a house built by the Imlay brothers in 1844. The ruins are found in Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park, along the Light to Light track. The house was to be a station for the Imlay family to further their grazing and whaling in the area. It appears the stone house was never completed, with the brothers dying in 1846 (George) and 1847 (Alexander). Soon after the Imlay brothers died, Benjamin Boyd began using the bay for his own whaling company in 1848. More info.

(0.3km) Imlay House Ruins → Bittangabee Creek

580 m

12 mins

10m

-23m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the platform, the walk keeps the platform and ruins on the right as it heads down the hill to a signposted intersection.Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows neither arrows on the sign but heads away from the face of the sign, keeping the bay below on the right. The bay becomes narrower as the track tends left into a gully. Soon, the track comes to be above a creek.

Bittangabee Creek

Bittangabee Creek is a small creek feeding Bittangabee Bay in Ben Boyd National Park. The creek enters the bay and is crossed by the Light to Light track about 800m north-west of Bittangabee Campsite. The creek provides a quiet place for people to paddle and relax.

(0.88km) Bittangabee Creek → Black cliffs north

1.7 km

34 mins

63m

-55m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the creek, this walk crosses immediately over the rocky creek bed to the other side, and then winds right along the hillside of the creek’s gully. The track leads up out of this gully, tending left, to following track markers bolted to the trees. The track undulates out of the bush and into the heath before dropping down onto a rock shelf above the sea.Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads up the rock shelf, keeping Green Cape Lighthouse and the bay behind, and the ocean to the right, of the track. The track leads up the rock platform, with its stunning views over the ocean and coast to the right. Before the end of the rock platform, the walk comes to an intersection with a track on the left, marked by some boulders.

Black cliffs

The black cliffs of Ben Boyd National Park provide a great vantage point. The headland on the north side of Bittangabee has a fairly large clearing on a rock platform, high above the ocean. There are great views out to sea and into the mouth of Bittangabee Bay. There are no fences or facilities at this informal lookout. Being dark in colour, this rock platform can get very uncomfortable on hot days – trees on the south side provide some respite with shade. The rock slopes into the sea on the south side, but would be too dangerous for swimming.

Maps for the Bittangabee Bay picnic area to black cliffs walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

Around 2.3km of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 280m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

Around 2.3km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 280m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely.

Signs

1.9km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 380m is clearly signposted. The remaining (280m) has minimal directional signs.

Experience Required

This whole walk, 2.6km requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 2.3km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 280m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

1.9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced) and another 380m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats). The remaining (280m) has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Bittangabee Bay picnic area to black cliffs walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-benbobnp-bbtbcxx
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the South Coast weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-benbobnp-bbtbcxx
Forecast snapshot